THIS. IS. BALTICOOOOOOONNNN!
Jun. 1st, 2010 10:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tenel_kaPictures and con report of doooooooom! Like Katsucon, there isn't much actual reporting to do since we all mainly just goofed off and talked and hung out and stuff, BUT THERE ARE PICTURES AND CRACK and a little bit of reporting. I WILL TRY MY BEST.
WARNING: IMAGE HEAVY AND SOME CURSING OR SOMETHING? HUR HUR~ also, crack. there's that too, but that's pretty much a given here. D:
On Friday afternoon, I took off from work early (using a couple of personal leave hours I would've been using on California next week :|) and returned home to FINISH SEWING THE QUEEN MOTHER TENEL KA DRESS AND JACKET. D: I still had to hem the bottoms of both (which took forever cause the bottom hems are so effing long) and take the dress in some and also somehow fix the collar on the jacket -- which is a total hot mess but it can't be seen anyway since my HAIR IS SO GIANT.
Nate showed up around 4:30 and him and I sat and finished up some costume crap and finished packing and I went over my awesome checklist spreadsheet to make sure we both packed everything (costume stuff and general stuff) -- I make one of those for every convention now, lol. It is extremely helpful when I have like seven costumes. Hehehehehe.
We had to stop at his parent's house on the way up to the magical Hunt Valley Inn cause he thought his gray pants (he was going to be wearing them for Ned) were there -- we couldn't find them. But we did see his Mom who I adore and she asked me if I LOST WEIGHT. I told her I've lost about ten pounds since I started Weight Watchers and I had no idea I actually looked any different. I asked Nate later if he told her to say that. He was like, "WHAT? NO." I think he forgot I was on WW or something, lol. He is spacey like this sometimes. <3
We continued on our way to the hotel and we started talking about childhoods for some reason. He said he wanted to be a herpetologist when he was younger and study reptiles and amphibians. He also had a pet snake named Ricardo. I cackled and cackled at this. Ricardo - so cute. XD
Before we went to the hotel, we ended up at a giant amazing shopping center near it. IT HAD. A. WEGMANNNNSSSSSSSSSS. So Nate and I freaked out and ran into the Wegmans and beelined for the little restaruant area. We shared a salad and had their amazing pizzzzaaaaaaaa. We also overheard these silly high school boys at a table behind us being... well, silly high school boys. "OMG HE IS SO WANTING TO DATE HER BUT LIEK HE IS TOO CHICKENSHIT-- *knocks on the window to their friend who is outside on the phone and speaks in a high pitched voice* --HEEEYYYYYYAAAAAAA BABBBBBBBBE~"
It was hilarious and I had to stop eating for a few moments as to not choke on anything.
We got to the hotel before our darling roommates Gala (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
precioussonja) and her boyfriend John (WAIT, DOES HE HAVE AN LJ?) and I was able to call her and get her to talk to the front desk so we could get into the room. It was a nice room, on the second floor and it was right beside the pool (WHERE THE CREEPY LIFEGUARDS WOULD WATCH INTO OUR ROOM WHEN WE HAD THE CURTAINS OPEN). I am in love with the hotel cause it's only three floors tall and it kind of sprawls everywhere. It's quaint and that's refreshing, lolololol.
Eight keys to the room. This is what we ended up having when Gala and John showed up. They walked in and we were like OMG DID WE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN? They ended up getting four more keys at the desk, so there were lots of DON'T FORGET YOUR KEY OMG DID YOU REMEMBER YOUR KEY YOU BETTER GO GET ONE OF THE BILLION LYING ON THE TABLE moments over the course of the weekend. The best was on Sunday when we were trying to make sure we had all the keys and put them in one spot, hahah~ XD
We were all pretty much lazy that night and basically we sat around the room talking about costuming and Star Wars and conventions and all kinds of crap. John had brought a sewing machine (JOHN, NOT GALA -- WHICH IS WHY IT IS ALL SO AWESOME XD) and was finishing/fixing up stuff on his Mando and working on some other things and Nate and I were staring at the magical Ultra Sabers website that Gala showed us cause he wants a lightsaber he can use/modify. This is the moment where he looked at me, wide-eyed, and went "WHAT ABOUT CAEDUS?" This is when we decided he's getting a Jacen saber and I'm getting a Caedus saber -- which he can use for the costume but I get to keep it cause OM NOM NOM EVILLLLLLLLLL AND REDDDDD AND CAEDUSSSSS.
(Every time Nate has my cell phone in his hand, he unlocks it, looks at the Caedus wallpaper and either silently stares at it doing costume things in his brain or he just goes "MY GOD I WANT THOSE CONTACTS" and all I can reply with is, "Dragon*Con, Nate. Dragon*Con.")
It was great cause there was a point where John and Nate were talking about how THEIR DAMN GIRLFRIENDS talked about the Star Wars books SO MUCH that they both started reading them so they could know WHAT THE HELL we were talking about ALL THE DAMN TIME. Gala and I were silently beaming at each other with absolute geek pride. XD
Bedtime came fairly early as we were all beat from traveling and work and all that crap (plus, we decided to only register for Saturday so we couldn't go into any of the con rooms yet) so we crawled into our beds and passed out.
Also, the four of us had the room set at 66 degrees all through the weekend. HAHAH YESSSSSSSS.
Here is an image to break up all the text, lolol. This was Saturday morning near the Masquerade registration table -- this kid started fanboying John's armor and asking him all these questions about it and it was adorable. Awwwww~
The next morning we somehow managed to get up and roll out of bed and register for the con and get breakfast. John put on his Resident Evil outfit (I LOVE THE RIOT SHIELDDDDDDDDD) which he didn't wear for too long before putting on the amazing Mandalorian Executioner he had. Gala had on her green jumpsuit Jaina and Nate and I were in our YJK Jacen and Tenel Ka. Want to know how lazy I was that morning? Usually I manage a few braids in my hair for this costume (putting all of your natural hair into many braids never looks as good as it does in drawings, I have noted this when I have attempted -- which is why I don't attempt anymore, lololol), whether I do them (ghettoly) or ask someone else to do them -- I had no braids in my hair at all. Hahaha~ Yes, I know THAT'S NOT THE COSTUME ZOMGGGGGGG but what can I say? LAZY~ One day I will get a wig or try to find a way to make the hair work in all braids or something. This weekend was not that time. XDDDD
We all putzed around a little bit -- went into the dealer room and into the con suite. The con suite at Balticon is the most magical thing ever. It's in this diner restaurant place they have at the hotel (I vaguely remembered it from Farpoint when I was at this hotel for that, but that was 2004 and pretty much a blur, lol) and it has REAL FOOD. There were chips, nuts, stuff to make sandwiches, veggies, fruit, dip, candy, gum, juice, soda, tea, crackers, cheese, cookies -- EVERYTHINGGGGGGG. I'm so used to the tiny D*C con suite that when I walked into this one I could hear singing from somewhere and a light shined down upon the diner. So we hung out here for awhile and we actually got recognized! There was a guy who was looking at Nate and Gala and was suddenly like, "WAIT WAIT YOU GUYS ARE THE SOLO TWINS" and it all when on from there. XDDDDD
Then of course we goofed off and took pictures.
Here is Nate and Gala being adorable as Jacen and Jaina. I will just say right now that I am so excited to take lots of pictures of them at D*C as Caedus and black jumpsuit Invincible!Jaina. Especially with her awesome saber and whatever magical one we find for Caedus. XDDDD EXCITED.
Seriously, over the course of the weekend I was getting all these ideas for pictures and I will drag them around to take them, even if I'm in my damn Queen Mother Tenel Ka dress, jacket and heels.
MANDO WILL KILL YOU WITH A CANDY CANE, BITCH.
Jaina posing with her lightsaber and her janitorial supplies...?
*GASP* HE IS EATING ANIMAL CRACKERS -- BLASPHEMY
Nate sneaking a look at some pictures on Gala's camera (HAVE I MENTIONED HOW EXCITED I AM TO PHOTO-IZE THEM AT D*C? I THINK I HAVE. LOOK HOW CUTE XD)~
I THINK THERE IS SOMEONE BEHIND YOU GUYS.
This is what I meant about us looking like dorks HUR HUR HURR~
JACEN, YOU'RE 14 WHERE DID THIS BEARD COME FROM????//
Here is Jacen and his crystal snake. Heeeee~ IT'S RICARDO LOLOLOL.
And of course Jacen and his animals~
John entered the masquerade in the morning -- it was his very first masquerade and on a whim he decided to enter it (especially after all of us were like YOU SHOULD TOTALLY DO IT. COME ON. DO IT. IT'LL BE FUN. DO IT. DO IT) -- when he walked up to the table to enter, all the people sitting there were like ... :D PLEASE TELL US YOU ARE HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE MASQUERADE and he was all, "...yes?"
He had to go back around 5:50 for rehearsal and then back at 7:30 to get ready for the show, so after we were done hanging out in the con suite and goofing off a little more, Gala and John went to change into NORMAL PEOPLE CLOTHES LOL and walk over to the shopping center to get some food. Nate and I hung out in the room for a little bit and then changed into NOT TINY & OBNOXIOUS TEENAGE JACEN AND TENEL KA. Putting the dress and jacket on with my hair down and my heels on and stuff made me realize it turned out much less ghetto than I thought it would and I was very happy with it. Yayyyyyyyy!
We walked around a little bit and checked out some of the tables people had set up and we also managed to get a few pictures. We knew we would take more with Gala and John when they got back too, so this was us goofing off (you know, like usual).
"DAMN YOU AND YOUR FLOWERS, GAZEBO. I AM SO ANGRY AND SHADOWY AT YOU."
My heel was stuck in between two of the wooden boards of the floor of the gazebo while this picture was taken. That expression was me concentrating and trying to silently get it out so I wouldn't be stuck there all day or have to take my shoe off.
Then we found the magical bench out front! Whenever I think bench and woods, you know my mind goes to super secret bench where Tenel Kaemos to herself goes to be by herself and brings Jacen there to make "plans" -- and I was like THEY HAVE TO TAKE OFF THEIR SHOES TO GET THERE. But we didn't give a shit cause I wasn't about to untie those bitches and Nate's boots are way too awesome to not be included. So it just turned into a random bench on Hapes. Which is fine. Cause everyone has Hapes.
QUEEN BITCH?
Nate is a giant. This jumpsuit was an okay fit except for the fact that it was a tad bit too short. Every time he sat down, it took him a few moments to get there so he wouldn't rip the damn thing, lololol.
Aaaaaand I'm bitching about something again?
BACK THAT THING UP?
Why do I look so mean--
I LOVE THOSE BOOTS.
We were talking about something random and Nate was fiddling with the camera and suddenly turned it around and was like MYSPACE SHOT!!11 The picture somehow turned out somewhat in-character...?
We also ended up at the art show somewhere around here, which had some really good stuff in it -- there were a few things Nate and I would have bid on but the line to register for bidding was long and a lot of stuff had been sold on quick sale. When Gala and John returned, he fixed a couple things on his costume and headed to rehearsal and we found Gala in the con suite in her black jumpsuit eating another apple (she had four on Saturday XD). We moved out to the main hall area to wait for John to finish so we could go be dorks and take more pictures and that is where I snapped this.
The Solo twins pictures at D*C? DID I MENTION--
John came out and we headed outside behind the hotel to a nice grassy area. Needless to say, my heels did not enjoy this grassy area (even though I liked it) and there were many instances where I would flail backwards as I sunk into the dirt and Nate would have to grab me so I wouldn't fall over. I took my camera out and Nate took John's camera and I said THE MANDO NEEDS TO TEACH JAINA THINGS.
I'm sure Jaina knows how to shoot a blaster, but I thought this picture would be cute. XD
THIS IS HOW YOU DO PUSH-UPS. XD
YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Muahahahahahahahah~ XDDDDD
This is the real reason she broke up with Jag, dude.
Then they stole the cameras and turned them on us and we were like "hahahahaha duhhhhh"~ seriously, how do I get all these awesome ideas for pictures for all kinds of EU characters EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO JACEN AND TENEL KA???
Look, he is trying to impress her lol. How about that not amused face. WHAT, A FLEET? WHAT DO I GET?
I'M SURE NONE OF THE SUITORS CAN SEE US OUT IN THE OPEN AREA HERE
Then it was OH YEAH. DO THE ROMANCE NOVEL COVERRRRRR~ So you know, the Fabio front-to-back romance novel pose. The thing here is that I had my arm tucked fairly uncomfortably between me and Nate and it REALLY LOOKS LIKE I AM MISSING THAT PART THERE. Then that left Nate nowhere to put his other hand, so we just deduced that Jacen was touching Tenel Ka's ass in this one. This is because we are horrible people who ruin fandom, lol.
THEN OF COURSE GALA AND I WERE EVEN MORE HORRIBLE AND TOLD NATE HE HAD TO DO THE JACEN CROTCH POSE. He was like, ":| oh okayyyyy" -- and remember that whole JUMPSUIT TOO SHORT THING? Nate couldn't stick his crotch out any further than that for fear of putting himself in lots of pain. Also, John had my camera during this (I had hobbled over and showed Nate the fine art of Jacen Solo crotch-thrusting -- seriously, this is me we're talking about -- are you surprised?) and John was like, "YEP HAHAHA *SNAP SNAP*" and he got all artsy in this bitch and leaned down to get this shot.
John went over into this little mess of trees and I couldn't make it over there to get pictures cause I was sunk in the dirt so Nate had to run over to snap one. XD
You know why Star Wars is awesome? Cause you can say, "HEY LOOK AT THAT TRASH DUMPSTER! THAT LOOKS TOTALLY STAR WARS LETS GET SOME PICTURES BY IT~" Here is emo!Jacen.
Then he had a drive-by stomach slap from a MANDOOOOOO EXECUTIONER -- who celebrated afterwards!
I love the Mando creeping up on the Solo twins. XD
MANDO SNEAKING AROUND CORNERS TO SURPRISE JAINA~
Jacen being very old school in his element.
DRAGON*CON. DO WANT.
"THIS IS MY TREE. GO BACK TO YOUR MACHINES. D:"
We headed back to the bench after that so we could get a couple pictures on it with both of us, which is where this happened:
But that was in the midst of all this other random BS, hahahahah:
LOOK I CAUGHT A SOLO BOY. See, this is how pictures of us usually turn out.
Jacen's slowly getting convinced to stay over for a night, lololol.
blah blah blah fleet blah blah blah suitors blah blah i can't come with you
And somehow it all went to this. Hur hur hur, wait, now Tenel Ka is growing an arm and grabbing Jacen's ass? I... I don't even know... ;-;
Awwww, now it's time to go back to the palace and make suitors JEALOUSSSSS.
And then JAINA AND TENEL KA HAD GIRL TALK except not really cause we took these awesome depressing pictures instead. But for real, WE ARE SO EFFING WHITE. I LOOK LIKE I'M WEARING A WHITE LONG SLEEVED SHIRT. O_O
John had to head off to the Green Room for the masquerade after that, so Gala went with him to see if he needed any help and Nate and I got some quick dinner from the cafe in the hotel and relaxed in the room for a bit. It was nice to have my feet on the ground. Which would change soon, of course, since I was putting on four-inch heels for Pushing Daisies costumes (these are the shoes I wore). XD
We changed into Ned and Chuck, while Gala changed into her totally awesome femme!Clone Trooper outfit. It's Captain Rex, y'all!
And naturally we ended up in the con suite while waiting for the masquerade to start. They were having cake for a book launch so we had a little bit of that. It was very good. Nate and I were so tired for some reason so we looked spacey the rest of the night, lolol.
Here is CAPTAIN SMEX AND CHUCK DOING CHARLIE'S ANGELS. And as you can see Chuck's weapon is unfortunately a fork and a piece of cake cause there was no pie. Ned did not approve of cake.
Ned and our pie box.
The response these costumes got was all absolutely wonderful and totally heartwarming (I was surprised there was response at all, we weren't sure how many people had seen the show!) -- right after we changed and got into the elevator, a girl looked at us and grinned called us adorable (I wanted to cry, you guys D:) and commented on the pie box and how awesome the show was and later she approached us in the masquerade room and asked where Digby was! :D Another lady we passed in the hall was like, "Pretty as a peach pie! I love your Pushing Daisies costumes! The show was gone too soon!" And then in the masquerade room when people were leaving, a mother and her young son came up to us and she told us she loved our costumes and reminded Nate that he had to scoot away from me or he might kill me! <333333
It was so awesome to find other fans of the show and also awesome to know that Nate and I aren't the only ones still mourning the loss of it!
Me and our pie box. Can you believe all this yellow I'm wearing? WHAT IS THISSS????
Here's both of us half asleep at the table, haha. For real, we're like "DUHHHHHHHHHHHHH" (even more than normal) at this point.
And of course, the plastic wrap~ Except I would be dead since I think his shoulder was brushing me. XD
DEADLY NEDLY~
Creepy lighting picture of Chuck. She's dead, so it works, lolol.
We headed into the masquerade room after lazing around the con suite and watched all the great costumes. John went up (in the novice category!) and we cheered for him. He ended up getting an award for most authentic in the novice category, which was awesome. And then much to our suprise (not that his costume wasn't awesome, but we didn't know they would give this to a novice, lol) he got BEST IN SHOW FOR WORKMANSHIP. :D Gala was up sitting beside him when they announced winners and then Nate and I rushed up there afterwards and we all flipped out together. Hehehehe.
Ribbons!
Overheard during the masquerade:
MC of the show: That was (first name I can't remember) Fell that just went across the stage.
Me: OMG Fel. Did you hear that?
Gala: Yes! ... we are such dorks.
Me: ... I know, right?
Cheshire Cat! <33333333 She won the BEST IN SHOW FOR PRESENTATION award! :D
I saw Ken and Eugenia on the way out (you might remember them from past D*C reports!) -- I had seen them earlier and we chatted for a bit and they filled me in on some past drama that they have been steering clear of (OH, D.C. FANFORCE WE HARDLY KNEW YE)... and yes, Ken had the Cthulhu in the baby carrier on his stomach, as usual ;D (it had a baby too!) -- when I saw them on the way out of the Masquerade I was all OMG YOU GUYS LOOK AMAZING. Eugenia was wearing this awesome green corset (she was like, "Yes, this outfit makes me look pretty boobilicious~" hahahaha <33333) and Ken had A TOP HATTTTTT (I adore top hats, yo). I was so happy to see them since it had been awhile and they were like YOU SHOULD COME HANG OUT WITH THIS FIREFLY GROUP WE'RE IN CAUSE THERE'S NO DRAMA IT IS GLORIOUS~ XDDDDDD
The rest of the night was pretty much me and Nate being lazy and looking at lightsabers again. Gala and John went down to the bar for a couple minutes but we all pretty much passed out after that. Hehe.
We were all going to go to the aquarium in Balitmore the next day but the entrance time was like 2 and a half hours after we got there (holiday weekend so it was super packeddddd) so we were like LOL NO and we ended up putzing around the Inner Harbor and shopping. Then we parted ways in the parking garage and we were all like, "DRAGON*CON. SEE YOU AT DRAGON*CON. OMG DRAGON*CON YESSSS." XDDD
Nate and I stopped at his parent's on the way back and ate dinner with them and then we came back to my house and played some Alan Wake and basically were lazy the rest of the night. Mmmm, lazy.
We decided we would take roughly a few days off from all things costume-related and then this weekend we would start figuring out everything we needed (and of course, start working on) all things Dragon*Con. Which now looks like this...? I think? hahahahahaha~ XD
- Tenel Ka/Jacen Solo (SW:EU - Jedi Strike Team)
- Tenel Ka (QM)/Darth Caedus (SW:EU)
- Kale Longo/Han Solo (SW:EU - Death Troopers)
- Peter McVries/Abraham (The Long Walk)
- Buster Bluth/GOB Bluth (Arrested Development)
- Drowning Doom Ophelia/Grave Digger (Brutal Legend)
- Elaine Marley/Guybrush Threepwood (Monkey Island)
- Charlotte "Chuck" Charles/Ned (Pushing Daisies -- possibly a Thursday night costume or Monday morning or something XD)
In closing, this con has made me absolutely crazy for Star Wars: EU pictures and I will harass every one of you with an EU costume at Dragon*Con this year for a billion pictures. SO MANY IDEAS FOR STRIKE TEAM PICTURESSSSSSS TOOOOOOO. D:
WARNING: IMAGE HEAVY AND SOME CURSING OR SOMETHING? HUR HUR~ also, crack. there's that too, but that's pretty much a given here. D:
On Friday afternoon, I took off from work early (using a couple of personal leave hours I would've been using on California next week :|) and returned home to FINISH SEWING THE QUEEN MOTHER TENEL KA DRESS AND JACKET. D: I still had to hem the bottoms of both (which took forever cause the bottom hems are so effing long) and take the dress in some and also somehow fix the collar on the jacket -- which is a total hot mess but it can't be seen anyway since my HAIR IS SO GIANT.
Nate showed up around 4:30 and him and I sat and finished up some costume crap and finished packing and I went over my awesome checklist spreadsheet to make sure we both packed everything (costume stuff and general stuff) -- I make one of those for every convention now, lol. It is extremely helpful when I have like seven costumes. Hehehehehe.
We had to stop at his parent's house on the way up to the magical Hunt Valley Inn cause he thought his gray pants (he was going to be wearing them for Ned) were there -- we couldn't find them. But we did see his Mom who I adore and she asked me if I LOST WEIGHT. I told her I've lost about ten pounds since I started Weight Watchers and I had no idea I actually looked any different. I asked Nate later if he told her to say that. He was like, "WHAT? NO." I think he forgot I was on WW or something, lol. He is spacey like this sometimes. <3
We continued on our way to the hotel and we started talking about childhoods for some reason. He said he wanted to be a herpetologist when he was younger and study reptiles and amphibians. He also had a pet snake named Ricardo. I cackled and cackled at this. Ricardo - so cute. XD
Before we went to the hotel, we ended up at a giant amazing shopping center near it. IT HAD. A. WEGMANNNNSSSSSSSSSS. So Nate and I freaked out and ran into the Wegmans and beelined for the little restaruant area. We shared a salad and had their amazing pizzzzaaaaaaaa. We also overheard these silly high school boys at a table behind us being... well, silly high school boys. "OMG HE IS SO WANTING TO DATE HER BUT LIEK HE IS TOO CHICKENSHIT-- *knocks on the window to their friend who is outside on the phone and speaks in a high pitched voice* --HEEEYYYYYYAAAAAAA BABBBBBBBBE~"
It was hilarious and I had to stop eating for a few moments as to not choke on anything.
We got to the hotel before our darling roommates Gala (
precioussonja) and her boyfriend John (WAIT, DOES HE HAVE AN LJ?) and I was able to call her and get her to talk to the front desk so we could get into the room. It was a nice room, on the second floor and it was right beside the pool (WHERE THE CREEPY LIFEGUARDS WOULD WATCH INTO OUR ROOM WHEN WE HAD THE CURTAINS OPEN). I am in love with the hotel cause it's only three floors tall and it kind of sprawls everywhere. It's quaint and that's refreshing, lolololol.Eight keys to the room. This is what we ended up having when Gala and John showed up. They walked in and we were like OMG DID WE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN? They ended up getting four more keys at the desk, so there were lots of DON'T FORGET YOUR KEY OMG DID YOU REMEMBER YOUR KEY YOU BETTER GO GET ONE OF THE BILLION LYING ON THE TABLE moments over the course of the weekend. The best was on Sunday when we were trying to make sure we had all the keys and put them in one spot, hahah~ XD
We were all pretty much lazy that night and basically we sat around the room talking about costuming and Star Wars and conventions and all kinds of crap. John had brought a sewing machine (JOHN, NOT GALA -- WHICH IS WHY IT IS ALL SO AWESOME XD) and was finishing/fixing up stuff on his Mando and working on some other things and Nate and I were staring at the magical Ultra Sabers website that Gala showed us cause he wants a lightsaber he can use/modify. This is the moment where he looked at me, wide-eyed, and went "WHAT ABOUT CAEDUS?" This is when we decided he's getting a Jacen saber and I'm getting a Caedus saber -- which he can use for the costume but I get to keep it cause OM NOM NOM EVILLLLLLLLLL AND REDDDDD AND CAEDUSSSSS.
(Every time Nate has my cell phone in his hand, he unlocks it, looks at the Caedus wallpaper and either silently stares at it doing costume things in his brain or he just goes "MY GOD I WANT THOSE CONTACTS" and all I can reply with is, "Dragon*Con, Nate. Dragon*Con.")
It was great cause there was a point where John and Nate were talking about how THEIR DAMN GIRLFRIENDS talked about the Star Wars books SO MUCH that they both started reading them so they could know WHAT THE HELL we were talking about ALL THE DAMN TIME. Gala and I were silently beaming at each other with absolute geek pride. XD
Bedtime came fairly early as we were all beat from traveling and work and all that crap (plus, we decided to only register for Saturday so we couldn't go into any of the con rooms yet) so we crawled into our beds and passed out.
Also, the four of us had the room set at 66 degrees all through the weekend. HAHAH YESSSSSSSS.
Here is an image to break up all the text, lolol. This was Saturday morning near the Masquerade registration table -- this kid started fanboying John's armor and asking him all these questions about it and it was adorable. Awwwww~
The next morning we somehow managed to get up and roll out of bed and register for the con and get breakfast. John put on his Resident Evil outfit (I LOVE THE RIOT SHIELDDDDDDDDD) which he didn't wear for too long before putting on the amazing Mandalorian Executioner he had. Gala had on her green jumpsuit Jaina and Nate and I were in our YJK Jacen and Tenel Ka. Want to know how lazy I was that morning? Usually I manage a few braids in my hair for this costume (putting all of your natural hair into many braids never looks as good as it does in drawings, I have noted this when I have attempted -- which is why I don't attempt anymore, lololol), whether I do them (ghettoly) or ask someone else to do them -- I had no braids in my hair at all. Hahaha~ Yes, I know THAT'S NOT THE COSTUME ZOMGGGGGGG but what can I say? LAZY~ One day I will get a wig or try to find a way to make the hair work in all braids or something. This weekend was not that time. XDDDD
We all putzed around a little bit -- went into the dealer room and into the con suite. The con suite at Balticon is the most magical thing ever. It's in this diner restaurant place they have at the hotel (I vaguely remembered it from Farpoint when I was at this hotel for that, but that was 2004 and pretty much a blur, lol) and it has REAL FOOD. There were chips, nuts, stuff to make sandwiches, veggies, fruit, dip, candy, gum, juice, soda, tea, crackers, cheese, cookies -- EVERYTHINGGGGGGG. I'm so used to the tiny D*C con suite that when I walked into this one I could hear singing from somewhere and a light shined down upon the diner. So we hung out here for awhile and we actually got recognized! There was a guy who was looking at Nate and Gala and was suddenly like, "WAIT WAIT YOU GUYS ARE THE SOLO TWINS" and it all when on from there. XDDDDD
Then of course we goofed off and took pictures.
Here is Nate and Gala being adorable as Jacen and Jaina. I will just say right now that I am so excited to take lots of pictures of them at D*C as Caedus and black jumpsuit Invincible!Jaina. Especially with her awesome saber and whatever magical one we find for Caedus. XDDDD EXCITED.
Seriously, over the course of the weekend I was getting all these ideas for pictures and I will drag them around to take them, even if I'm in my damn Queen Mother Tenel Ka dress, jacket and heels.
MANDO WILL KILL YOU WITH A CANDY CANE, BITCH.
Jaina posing with her lightsaber and her janitorial supplies...?
*GASP* HE IS EATING ANIMAL CRACKERS -- BLASPHEMY
Nate sneaking a look at some pictures on Gala's camera (HAVE I MENTIONED HOW EXCITED I AM TO PHOTO-IZE THEM AT D*C? I THINK I HAVE. LOOK HOW CUTE XD)~
I THINK THERE IS SOMEONE BEHIND YOU GUYS.
This is what I meant about us looking like dorks HUR HUR HURR~
JACEN, YOU'RE 14 WHERE DID THIS BEARD COME FROM????//
Here is Jacen and his crystal snake. Heeeee~ IT'S RICARDO LOLOLOL.
And of course Jacen and his animals~
John entered the masquerade in the morning -- it was his very first masquerade and on a whim he decided to enter it (especially after all of us were like YOU SHOULD TOTALLY DO IT. COME ON. DO IT. IT'LL BE FUN. DO IT. DO IT) -- when he walked up to the table to enter, all the people sitting there were like ... :D PLEASE TELL US YOU ARE HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE MASQUERADE and he was all, "...yes?"
He had to go back around 5:50 for rehearsal and then back at 7:30 to get ready for the show, so after we were done hanging out in the con suite and goofing off a little more, Gala and John went to change into NORMAL PEOPLE CLOTHES LOL and walk over to the shopping center to get some food. Nate and I hung out in the room for a little bit and then changed into NOT TINY & OBNOXIOUS TEENAGE JACEN AND TENEL KA. Putting the dress and jacket on with my hair down and my heels on and stuff made me realize it turned out much less ghetto than I thought it would and I was very happy with it. Yayyyyyyyy!
We walked around a little bit and checked out some of the tables people had set up and we also managed to get a few pictures. We knew we would take more with Gala and John when they got back too, so this was us goofing off (you know, like usual).
"DAMN YOU AND YOUR FLOWERS, GAZEBO. I AM SO ANGRY AND SHADOWY AT YOU."
My heel was stuck in between two of the wooden boards of the floor of the gazebo while this picture was taken. That expression was me concentrating and trying to silently get it out so I wouldn't be stuck there all day or have to take my shoe off.
Then we found the magical bench out front! Whenever I think bench and woods, you know my mind goes to super secret bench where Tenel Ka
QUEEN BITCH?
Nate is a giant. This jumpsuit was an okay fit except for the fact that it was a tad bit too short. Every time he sat down, it took him a few moments to get there so he wouldn't rip the damn thing, lololol.
Aaaaaand I'm bitching about something again?
BACK THAT THING UP?
Why do I look so mean--
I LOVE THOSE BOOTS.
We were talking about something random and Nate was fiddling with the camera and suddenly turned it around and was like MYSPACE SHOT!!11 The picture somehow turned out somewhat in-character...?
We also ended up at the art show somewhere around here, which had some really good stuff in it -- there were a few things Nate and I would have bid on but the line to register for bidding was long and a lot of stuff had been sold on quick sale. When Gala and John returned, he fixed a couple things on his costume and headed to rehearsal and we found Gala in the con suite in her black jumpsuit eating another apple (she had four on Saturday XD). We moved out to the main hall area to wait for John to finish so we could go be dorks and take more pictures and that is where I snapped this.
The Solo twins pictures at D*C? DID I MENTION--
John came out and we headed outside behind the hotel to a nice grassy area. Needless to say, my heels did not enjoy this grassy area (even though I liked it) and there were many instances where I would flail backwards as I sunk into the dirt and Nate would have to grab me so I wouldn't fall over. I took my camera out and Nate took John's camera and I said THE MANDO NEEDS TO TEACH JAINA THINGS.
I'm sure Jaina knows how to shoot a blaster, but I thought this picture would be cute. XD
THIS IS HOW YOU DO PUSH-UPS. XD
YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Muahahahahahahahah~ XDDDDD
This is the real reason she broke up with Jag, dude.
Then they stole the cameras and turned them on us and we were like "hahahahaha duhhhhh"~ seriously, how do I get all these awesome ideas for pictures for all kinds of EU characters EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO JACEN AND TENEL KA???
Look, he is trying to impress her lol. How about that not amused face. WHAT, A FLEET? WHAT DO I GET?
I'M SURE NONE OF THE SUITORS CAN SEE US OUT IN THE OPEN AREA HERE
Then it was OH YEAH. DO THE ROMANCE NOVEL COVERRRRRR~ So you know, the Fabio front-to-back romance novel pose. The thing here is that I had my arm tucked fairly uncomfortably between me and Nate and it REALLY LOOKS LIKE I AM MISSING THAT PART THERE. Then that left Nate nowhere to put his other hand, so we just deduced that Jacen was touching Tenel Ka's ass in this one. This is because we are horrible people who ruin fandom, lol.
THEN OF COURSE GALA AND I WERE EVEN MORE HORRIBLE AND TOLD NATE HE HAD TO DO THE JACEN CROTCH POSE. He was like, ":| oh okayyyyy" -- and remember that whole JUMPSUIT TOO SHORT THING? Nate couldn't stick his crotch out any further than that for fear of putting himself in lots of pain. Also, John had my camera during this (I had hobbled over and showed Nate the fine art of Jacen Solo crotch-thrusting -- seriously, this is me we're talking about -- are you surprised?) and John was like, "YEP HAHAHA *SNAP SNAP*" and he got all artsy in this bitch and leaned down to get this shot.
John went over into this little mess of trees and I couldn't make it over there to get pictures cause I was sunk in the dirt so Nate had to run over to snap one. XD
You know why Star Wars is awesome? Cause you can say, "HEY LOOK AT THAT TRASH DUMPSTER! THAT LOOKS TOTALLY STAR WARS LETS GET SOME PICTURES BY IT~" Here is emo!Jacen.
Then he had a drive-by stomach slap from a MANDOOOOOO EXECUTIONER -- who celebrated afterwards!
I love the Mando creeping up on the Solo twins. XD
MANDO SNEAKING AROUND CORNERS TO SURPRISE JAINA~
Jacen being very old school in his element.
DRAGON*CON. DO WANT.
"THIS IS MY TREE. GO BACK TO YOUR MACHINES. D:"
We headed back to the bench after that so we could get a couple pictures on it with both of us, which is where this happened:
But that was in the midst of all this other random BS, hahahahah:
LOOK I CAUGHT A SOLO BOY. See, this is how pictures of us usually turn out.
Jacen's slowly getting convinced to stay over for a night, lololol.
blah blah blah fleet blah blah blah suitors blah blah i can't come with you
And somehow it all went to this. Hur hur hur, wait, now Tenel Ka is growing an arm and grabbing Jacen's ass? I... I don't even know... ;-;
Awwww, now it's time to go back to the palace and make suitors JEALOUSSSSS.
And then JAINA AND TENEL KA HAD GIRL TALK except not really cause we took these awesome depressing pictures instead. But for real, WE ARE SO EFFING WHITE. I LOOK LIKE I'M WEARING A WHITE LONG SLEEVED SHIRT. O_O
John had to head off to the Green Room for the masquerade after that, so Gala went with him to see if he needed any help and Nate and I got some quick dinner from the cafe in the hotel and relaxed in the room for a bit. It was nice to have my feet on the ground. Which would change soon, of course, since I was putting on four-inch heels for Pushing Daisies costumes (these are the shoes I wore). XD
We changed into Ned and Chuck, while Gala changed into her totally awesome femme!Clone Trooper outfit. It's Captain Rex, y'all!
And naturally we ended up in the con suite while waiting for the masquerade to start. They were having cake for a book launch so we had a little bit of that. It was very good. Nate and I were so tired for some reason so we looked spacey the rest of the night, lolol.
Here is CAPTAIN SMEX AND CHUCK DOING CHARLIE'S ANGELS. And as you can see Chuck's weapon is unfortunately a fork and a piece of cake cause there was no pie. Ned did not approve of cake.
Ned and our pie box.
The response these costumes got was all absolutely wonderful and totally heartwarming (I was surprised there was response at all, we weren't sure how many people had seen the show!) -- right after we changed and got into the elevator, a girl looked at us and grinned called us adorable (I wanted to cry, you guys D:) and commented on the pie box and how awesome the show was and later she approached us in the masquerade room and asked where Digby was! :D Another lady we passed in the hall was like, "Pretty as a peach pie! I love your Pushing Daisies costumes! The show was gone too soon!" And then in the masquerade room when people were leaving, a mother and her young son came up to us and she told us she loved our costumes and reminded Nate that he had to scoot away from me or he might kill me! <333333
It was so awesome to find other fans of the show and also awesome to know that Nate and I aren't the only ones still mourning the loss of it!
Me and our pie box. Can you believe all this yellow I'm wearing? WHAT IS THISSS????
Here's both of us half asleep at the table, haha. For real, we're like "DUHHHHHHHHHHHHH" (even more than normal) at this point.
And of course, the plastic wrap~ Except I would be dead since I think his shoulder was brushing me. XD
DEADLY NEDLY~
Creepy lighting picture of Chuck. She's dead, so it works, lolol.
We headed into the masquerade room after lazing around the con suite and watched all the great costumes. John went up (in the novice category!) and we cheered for him. He ended up getting an award for most authentic in the novice category, which was awesome. And then much to our suprise (not that his costume wasn't awesome, but we didn't know they would give this to a novice, lol) he got BEST IN SHOW FOR WORKMANSHIP. :D Gala was up sitting beside him when they announced winners and then Nate and I rushed up there afterwards and we all flipped out together. Hehehehe.
Ribbons!
Overheard during the masquerade:
MC of the show: That was (first name I can't remember) Fell that just went across the stage.
Me: OMG Fel. Did you hear that?
Gala: Yes! ... we are such dorks.
Me: ... I know, right?
Cheshire Cat! <33333333 She won the BEST IN SHOW FOR PRESENTATION award! :D
I saw Ken and Eugenia on the way out (you might remember them from past D*C reports!) -- I had seen them earlier and we chatted for a bit and they filled me in on some past drama that they have been steering clear of (OH, D.C. FANFORCE WE HARDLY KNEW YE)... and yes, Ken had the Cthulhu in the baby carrier on his stomach, as usual ;D (it had a baby too!) -- when I saw them on the way out of the Masquerade I was all OMG YOU GUYS LOOK AMAZING. Eugenia was wearing this awesome green corset (she was like, "Yes, this outfit makes me look pretty boobilicious~" hahahaha <33333) and Ken had A TOP HATTTTTT (I adore top hats, yo). I was so happy to see them since it had been awhile and they were like YOU SHOULD COME HANG OUT WITH THIS FIREFLY GROUP WE'RE IN CAUSE THERE'S NO DRAMA IT IS GLORIOUS~ XDDDDDD
The rest of the night was pretty much me and Nate being lazy and looking at lightsabers again. Gala and John went down to the bar for a couple minutes but we all pretty much passed out after that. Hehe.
We were all going to go to the aquarium in Balitmore the next day but the entrance time was like 2 and a half hours after we got there (holiday weekend so it was super packeddddd) so we were like LOL NO and we ended up putzing around the Inner Harbor and shopping. Then we parted ways in the parking garage and we were all like, "DRAGON*CON. SEE YOU AT DRAGON*CON. OMG DRAGON*CON YESSSS." XDDD
Nate and I stopped at his parent's on the way back and ate dinner with them and then we came back to my house and played some Alan Wake and basically were lazy the rest of the night. Mmmm, lazy.
We decided we would take roughly a few days off from all things costume-related and then this weekend we would start figuring out everything we needed (and of course, start working on) all things Dragon*Con. Which now looks like this...? I think? hahahahahaha~ XD
- Tenel Ka/Jacen Solo (SW:EU - Jedi Strike Team)
- Tenel Ka (QM)/Darth Caedus (SW:EU)
- Kale Longo/Han Solo (SW:EU - Death Troopers)
- Peter McVries/Abraham (The Long Walk)
- Buster Bluth/GOB Bluth (Arrested Development)
- Drowning Doom Ophelia/Grave Digger (Brutal Legend)
- Elaine Marley/Guybrush Threepwood (Monkey Island)
- Charlotte "Chuck" Charles/Ned (Pushing Daisies -- possibly a Thursday night costume or Monday morning or something XD)
In closing, this con has made me absolutely crazy for Star Wars: EU pictures and I will harass every one of you with an EU costume at Dragon*Con this year for a billion pictures. SO MANY IDEAS FOR STRIKE TEAM PICTURESSSSSSS TOOOOOOO. D:
